Footnotes

There is a lightly annotated copy of Dodel’s Die neuere Schöpfungsgeschichte nach dem gegenwärtigen Stande der Naturwissenschaften (New history of creation according to the present state of science; Dodel 1875) in the Darwin Library–CUL (see Marginalia 1: 203–4).

In 1874, eleven students of Zürich University signed a formal complaint, criticising Dodel’s lectures on the Darwinian theory on scientific and moral grounds. A petition in defence of Dodel, signed by another thirty-nine students, led to proceedings against him being abandoned. The situation was however not permanently defused, and when asked to assess Dodel for his promotion in 1879, the rector’s office of Zürich University refused to comment. (Erziehungsrate des Kantons Zürich ed. 1938, p. 698 n.)

Translation

From Arnold Dodel1 13 December 1874

Zürich,

13. Decbr. 1874

To Mr Charles Darwin in Down, Beckenham Kent----England

Most highly honoured Sir!

By the same post as this you receive a copy of my “Neuere Schöpfungsgeschichte”, which contains nothing other than an expanded version of my lectures on your theory of descent and of selection, as I have given them in the past few years at the federal polytechnic and at the university in Zurich.2 I flatter myself to have been the first university teacher of our Swiss republic who dared give a regular course of lectures on the new history of creation at one of our four institutes of higher education. In the summer of 1871 I lectured on your theory for the first time, in fact to an audience of 21 listeners from various faculties; in the winter of 1872/73, to circa 80–100 people, in the winter of 1873/74 and 1874/75 before ca. 60–80 regular listeners. I left nothing out and presented your theory without reservations or fear, frankly and strongly, and I pointed out the implications it must necessarily have for the scientific, social, and religious endeavours of the present day. My reward was the satisfaction of having won a great circle of young people for your theory, but also bitter animosities of all sorts.—3 the latter induced me to publish my lectures as speedily as possible. To my knowledge this “Neuere Schöpf.-Gesch.” is the first account of your theory by a botanist on our continent. A number of valuable works by established botanists have been given due consideration. Our discipline is well suited to provide evidence of all kinds for the theory of descent. Perhaps you will find a number of points in my book which you could later take into consideration in the various new editions of your works.

I hope that my book will be read by at least as many assiduous people as that of another botanist (Wigand) who has taken a disapproving stance against your theory of descent and selection.4 I shall continue to teach and write, to research and to examine, in the interest of our liberal-minded task. May this first attempt not have been undertaken in vain! I have the honour of assuring you of my highest respect and of my deepest veneration. Your most devoted | Dr. Arnold Dodel, | teacher at the university.

Footnotes

There is a lightly annotated copy of Dodel’s Die neuere Schöpfungsgeschichte nach dem gegenwärtigen Stande der Naturwissenschaften (New history of creation according to the present state of science; Dodel 1875) in the Darwin Library–CUL (see Marginalia 1: 203–4).

In 1874, eleven students of Zürich University signed a formal complaint, criticising Dodel’s lectures on the Darwinian theory on scientific and moral grounds. A petition in defence of Dodel, signed by another thirty-nine students, led to proceedings against him being abandoned. The situation was however not permanently defused, and when asked to assess Dodel for his promotion in 1879, the rector’s office of Zürich University refused to comment. (Erziehungsrate des Kantons Zürich ed. 1938, p. 698 n.)